2019 Modifications

Status

Proposer

Summary

The modifications made to the Distribution Code, and Engineering Recommendations G59, G83, G98, and G99 are to address a number of minor technical and housekeeping issues that have come to light as stakeholders start to apply G98 and G99 in advance of the compliance date of 27 April 2019. There are also a very small number of consequential changes to G59 and G83.

Impact

Consultation

The Distribution Code public consultation sought views from industry stakeholders on the modification to the ‘DCode’ and the associated documents. It was published on the 8 February 2019 with a deadline for responses by 01 May 2019.

DCRP/19/01/PC Consultation Pack

The initial modification proposal was initially circulated to stakeholders between 26 October 2018 and 23 November 2018.

DCRP/18/11/PC Consultation Pack

Authority Decision

Status

Proposer

The Distribution Code Review Panel - www.dcode@energynetworks.org

020 7706 5105

Summary

ENA EREP 130 is a guidance document for the EREC P2 planning standard and an Annex 2 document to the Distribution Code. The proposed modification of this document has been written to recognise the changes to the load and generation connected to distribution networks since ETR 130 Issue 1 was initially published in 2006. In particular it recognises that:

• some demand customers are modifying their electricity consumption in response to market signals; this means that further consideration has to be given to establishing the true demand on the network;
• in addition to providing security of supply from network assets and distributed generation, demand side services can also contribute to security of supplies;
• the nature and type of distributed generation connected to the network mean that their contribution to security of supplies is different to that in EREC P2/6 and EREP 130 Issue 2; and
• ER P2/6 has been revised and a new version EREC P2/7 has been proposed in Modification DCRP/MP/18/03.

Impact

Consultation

The Distribution Code public consultation sought views from industry stakeholders on the modification to both the ‘DCode’ and the Annex 1 DCode Document ENA Engineering Report (EREP) 130. It was published on the 8 February 2019 with a deadline for responses by 7 March 2019.

DCRP/19/02/PC Consultation Pack

Authority Decision

Status

Proposer

The Distribution Code Review Panel - www.dcode@energynetworks.org

020 7706 5105

Summary

ENA Engineering Recommendation (EREC) G5 is an Annex 1 document to the Distribution Code which defines planning levels and compatibility levels for the assessment of voltage distortion from Network User’s equipment and installations with harmonic emission to be connected to transmission systems and distribution networks in the United Kingdom.

In June 2010 a National Grid initiated a review of the existing ER G5/4-1 standard under Distribution Code Review Panel (DCRP) paper DCRP_10_02_07 (Appendix 1 of the RTA). The key drivers National Grid highlighted for requiring review of EREC G5 were:

• A significant increase in the number of polluting loads that are connecting to the transmission/distribution system;
• Interactions between these connections i.e. connecting at same/proximate nodes and in similar timescales; and
• Concerns raised by some customers that the principle of allocating rights to emit on a ‘first-come, first-served’ basis may not be appropriate.

The DCRP agreed to the establishment of a joint DCRP/GCRP Working Group which was formally kicked off in October 2010 under GC0036. The Terms of Reference of the original GC0036 working group is detailed in Appendix 2 of the RTA. In 2017, the Grid Code Review Panel (GCRP) governance procedures were revised. A decision was taken by the working group to continue the review work under a DCRP governed Working Group DC0036. The revised Terms of Reference and the Working Group membership are detailed in Appendices 3 and 4 of the RTA respectively.

The proposed modification of EREC G5 has been written in response to the review work undertaken by the Working Group. The main issues the revision working group sought to consider were:

• An increase in the number of non-linear connections Whether there are international standards that could be adopted or referenced (e.g. IEC 61000-3-6) in anticipation of the implementation of EU Network Codes.
• A general review of the technical processes used to calculate allocated harmonic emission levels
• The roles and responsibilities of the different stakeholders in the process (e.g. Transmission Owners, Offshore Transmission Owners, Distribution Network Owners and users connected to these systems)
• Are the harmonic levels in the current version of G5/4 adequate or acceptable?
• Should harmonics levels above the 50th harmonic be included within G5/4?
• How to progress with harmonic assessments where a new substation needs to be built i.e. how is the background level at the new substation estimated?
• The process used to allocate the limits described in G5/4 between different users in similar areas including:
• Whether ‘first-come, first-served’ is the appropriate way of allocating limits
• How ‘competing’ applications are dealt with, and how changes to customers requirements may impact on their right to emit harmonics
• Clarification on the process used to measure and predict the applicable level of background distortion to be used in an assessment
• Whether there are ‘non-technical’ changes that need to be introduced into other codes (e.g. CUSC, DCUSA).

Impact

Consultation

On 13th March 2019 the DCRP formally opened up a public consultation DCRP/PC/19/03 on the proposed draft of EREC G5 Issue 5. The deadline for responses was 19th March 2019. Due to the Easter holiday period, the consultation closure was extended to 26th April 2019. The consultation material is presented in Appendix 5 of the RTA.

11 responses from the public consultation were received by stakeholders which are summarised in Appendices 6 and 7 of the RTA. The commentary on the draft EREC G5 Issue 5 is addressed in Appendix 7 of the RTA whilst the stakeholder commentary on the consultation questions has been addressed in Appendix 6 of the RTA. Appendix 9 of the RTA tracks the changes made to EREC G5 Issue 5 since public consultation.

Overall the responses were supportive of the proposed changes with mainly editorial and minor technical recommendations to be made to the draft EREC G5 Issue 5 to add clarity to users. One significantly piece of feedback from one stakeholder was the objection to the revised approach to the apportionment of harmonic headroom. Appendix 10 of the RTA details the rationale behind the revised approach and the working group are comfortable the revised approach aligns with the distribution code objectives.

Further detail of this public consultation can be found on the DCode website under DCRP/19/03/PC Consultation Pack

Authority Decision

Status

Proposer

The Distribution Code Review Panel
www.dcode@energynetworks.org
020 7706 5105

Summary

In February 2018, Ofgem published its consultation on the implications for licences and industry codes and where amendments may be required in advance of the UK’s exit from the EU. Initial analysis accompanying that consultation identified potential modifications needed to the Distribution Code and linked industry code provisions.

Subsequent analysis carried out by the Energy Networks Association (ENA) on behalf of the Panel has determined the proposed modifications needed to the Distribution Code, as well as associated documents including the Distribution Code Review Panel - Rules and Constitution and certain Qualifying Standards including ENA EREC G83, ENA EREC G98 and ENA EREC G99, in the event the UK leaves the EU without a deal.

The proposed modification affects a number of requirements, which reference the need for compliance with EU legislation. In the event the UK leaves the EU without a deal, certain EU legislation and future decisions of the European Commission and Agency for the Co-operation of Energy Regulators will cease to apply to the UK after exit day (29 March 2019).

The UK Government plans to introduce Statutory Instruments, by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018, to ensure legislation (of both UK and EU origin) governing the UK’s energy networks is effective in this event. As such, certain EU legislation and aspects of it, will continue to form part of UK legislation after exit day. This is termed “retained EU law” and has the meaning attributed to it in section 6(7) of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 and includes any modifications to UK legislation made under the Section 8 of the of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 to address inoperabilities including but not limited to The Electricity and Gas Etc. (Amendment Etc.) (Eu Exit) Regulations 2019. The use of the term “retained EU law” in this proposed modification has the same meaning as that defined in the proposal for modification of the Distribution Licence.

The effect of the proposed modification to the legal text in the Distribution Code and the associated documents stated in this Report, which are under the governance of the Panel, is to ensure that retained EU law and provisions in relevant Statutory Instruments, that have been prepared under the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018, are correctly addressed in the event the UK leaves the EU without a deal.

Impact

Consultation

The Distribution Code public consultation sought views from industry stakeholders on the modification to the ‘DCode’ and the associated documents. It was published on the 6 March 2019 with a deadline for responses by 20 March 2019.

DCRP/19/04/PC Consultation Pack

Authority Decision

Status

Proposer

The Distribution Code Review Panel
www.dcode@energynetworks.org
020 7706 5105

Summary

Ofgem approved the implementation of the EU Network Code “Requirements for Generators” (RfG) on 15 May 2018 (with compliance required from 27 April 2019). The implementation consisted of parallel changes to the Grid and Distribution Codes, and the introduction of ERECs G98 and G99.

The modification which was implemented in GC0100 (EU Connection Codes GB Implementation Mod 1) recast the long-standing Grid Code fast fault current injection (FFCI) requirements in a way that was intended to be phrased so as to be compatible with the Requirements for Generators (RfG). Identical wording was used in both the Grid Code and EREC G99 to describe the FFCI requirements. However, the wording chosen by the GC0100 workgroup has proven to be open to misinterpretation and has induced some confusion amongst a number of stakeholders, particularly manufacturers.

Manufacturers of Power Park Modules need clarity on the FFCI requirements so that then can ensure compliance at the point of manufacture. It is not possible to test for compliance with the FFCI requirements on site, so it is crucially important that the requirements are specified with complete clarity and freedom from ambiguity.

Impact

Consultation

The Distribution Code public consultation sought views from industry stakeholders on the modification to the ‘DCode’ and the associated documents. It was published on the 12 April 2019 with a deadline for responses by 10 May 2019.

DCRP/19/05/PC Consultation Pack

Authority Decision